Competition # : 43482
Department: Municipal Affairs and Housing
Location: HALIFAX
Type of Employment: Permanent
Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG
Closing Date: 14-Jul-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing is dedicated to working with municipalities to build healthy, vibrant, and safe communities throughout Nova Scotia. Municipal Affairs provides programs, grants, and funding opportunities for municipalities and community groups. The Department also provides services and guidance to municipalities in many areas including land use planning, budget planning and finance, infrastructure development, policy and program development.

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing is also responsible for ensuring the availability of safe, suitable, and affordable housing for all Nova Scotians. Our work involves making strategic investments, leveraging new funding, and building on critical partnerships to help further position ourselves to meet current and future housing challenges.

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager Loan Administration, the Loan Officer is accountable for the delivery of programs and loans administered by the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing (DMAH). The incumbent provides advice and analysis on the activities of DMAH lending programs, evaluates business proposals and is responsible for applying accepted methods of appraisal to determine the security base for loans. They provide written and verbal reports with recommendations concerning loan requests reviewed. This position also monitors and manages accounts experiencing financial difficulty. The Loan Officer supports the housing loan portfolio by actively analyzing complex financial and operational data and reporting. As a subject matter expert, provides reliable and professional advice to senior executives, multiple departments, external support providers and clients in relation to lending and loan administration.

Primary Accountabilities

• Assists in the regular, critical reviews of the loan portfolio using complex analytical methods to identify underlying issues and resolution of those issues; evaluates sensitive client requests to arrive at a recommendation and mitigate inherent risk.
• Ensures that loans are accurately processed and managed in the system according to policy, guidelines and legal documentation.
• Prepares financial reports, loan confirmations for clients' external auditors, Direct Lending portfolio status reports, financial and compliance audits, and compliance reporting.
• Responsible for development of procedures in consultation with department staff as well as evaluating and/or training of changes in loan administration systems.

Qualifications and Experience

You will have a Bachelors' degree in a business-related field with three (3) years of related experience; an acceptable equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered.

As the successful candidate you are a critical thinker with an attention to detail, consistently ensuring program compliance. You are a decisive self-starter, with demonstrated well-developed analytical/problem-solving skills. You have the curiosity to question and understand established methods to find ways to improve processes. You are a problem solver with who can work independently, as a member of a team, and who values a diverse and inclusive workplace. The ability to prioritize competing requests while producing high quality results is vital.

In addition, you also posses the following:

• Demonstrated experience in mortgages and loan administration
• Ability to work with and maintain effective working relationships with internal program staff and external partners and clients, with tact, diplomacy and discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive financial information.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 products (Outlook, MS Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated experience with government programs, policies and procedures along with working knowledge of Acts including Housing Supply and Services Act would be considered an asset.
• Knowledge of loan management systems - SAP, Integrated Case Management (ICM), others - are also assets for this position.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. Equivalencies include, but are not limited to:

• At least eight (8) years of total related experience
• A completed related Masters degree and one (1) year of experience

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

Most of your work is spent in a comfortable office environment. Your normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day. You may need to work flexible and adjusted work hours, as required. Occasional travel may be required.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths
• Department specific flexible working schedules

Pay Grade: PR 08 - PR 13
Salary Range: $2,084.99 - $3,107.16 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to [email protected].